Pocket toothbrush



Sept. 28, 1948. y F JACKSON 2,450,002

POCKET TooTHBRUsH Filed Aug. 1 2, 194s TjLeocZ-ore JdcCSQ-n/ 762/' a@ Patented Sept. 28, 1948 l 2,450,002 r POCKET Too'rHBRUsH Theodore F. Jackson, Rockford, Ill., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, of one-half to Walter B. Keres, Rockford, Ill.

Application August 12, 1946, Serial No. 690,036

9 Claims.

This invention relates toa new and improved pocket type toothbrush, the same being designed to be carried in the pocket like a fountain pen.y

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a toothbrush of the kind mentioned having a tubular handle portion designed to receive a removable cartridge containing the denti-v frice, such as tooth poWder,-the cartridge having Aa dispensing opening in one end which when the cartridge is in place in the handle is sealed by a conical projection provided in the inner endl the conical projection too firmly into the neck A end.

is also provided in the inner endl of the handle to assist in freeing the cartridge when the plug is removed from the outer. endof the'handle, thus facilitating use of the toothbrush.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. lis a side view of .a toothbrush made in accordance with my invention showing the caps removed;

. Fig. 2 is a side view of another toothbrush showing afmodiiied or alternative construction in so far as the closure cap is concerned;

Fig. .3 is a sectional view ofstill another toothbrush showing another modified or alternative construction; i

Figs. 4 and 5 are cross-sections through the bristle end of the brush, showing two different constructions, and

Fig. 6 is a side view of one of the dentifrice cartridges as it will be sold for use, in either one kolf the three toothbrushes herein disclosed.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring rst to Fig. ,1, the reference numeral 1 designates the head .of thetoothbrush on which the usual bristles 8 are. provided, and 9 is the tubular handle in which a removable cartridge. I containing the dentifrice such as tooth powder, is adapted to be entered, a cap Il threadable `Still another object is to providea toothbrush of the latter description in which spring means in ,the outer end of the handle serving tohold the cartridge I Il in place. A tubular cap I2 designed to fit over the head 1 and havinga spring clipA I3 thereon, similar to what are commonly provided on the caps of fountain pens, is arranged either to thread-on the end of the handle S- or have a tight friction t thereon and is suitably provided with perforations I4 for ventilation to permit drying out of the bristles 8 when the cap is in place after the brush has been used. The cap I2 is cylindrical, as shown in Fig. 4, when the head 'I is of the form shown in that figure and when the handle 9 is also of cylindrical form to have a friction fit or threadedt in the cap. However, I may provide a cap I 2a of square or rectangular section, as shown in Fig. 5, when the head is of the rectangular form, indicated at 1a, and when the handle isof rectangular or square cross-sectionand designed to have a wedging friction t in the cap.

In accordance with my invention, the cartridges I0 will be made of cardboard, plastic, or any other suitable stiff material andformed to provide a reduced neck portion I5 into which a disposable plug t6 of wood, plastic, or other suitable material is tted with a tight friction fit. This plug is removed and discarded when the cartridge I0 is to be inserted in the handle 9 or 9a and the cartridge is of such length in relation to the length of the handle that the conical projection I'l in the center of the inner end of the handle has a tight wedging fit in the neck I5 to Seal the cartridge against likelihood of leakage of any dentifrice when the cap II has been threaded on the handle behind and in-abutment. with the cartridge.

In operation, it is only necessary to remove the cap l2 from the head end of the brush and then unscrew the cap I I from the outer end of the handle in order to permit removal of the cartridge I0, whereupon the brush is ready for use when, for example, the powder is sprinkled onto the bristles or a given amount of the powder is poured into the palm of one hand and the wet bristles are dipped in the powder. After the brush has been used and has been rinsed olf, the

cartridge vIll can .be replaced and retained and sealed tightly by inserting and tightening the cap II. Inasmuch as there is no opportunity for the cartridge to move endwise there is no danger ofl any loss and waste of powder.v The cap I2 may be yreplaced and the brust placed in the pocket without waiting for the bristles to dry,- if the excess water is shaken off after the brush.`

hasy been rinsed.

If desired, I may, as shown in Fig. 2, provide a coiled compression spring I8 in a socket I9 in the cap Ila, the cap lla being designe-d to thread into the open end of the handle 9 the same way as the cap I I. With this construction it is apparent that regardless of slight variation in the overall length of` the cartridges I there will be no likelihood of any leakage of tooth powder, because the spring I8 will be compressed between the outer end of the cartridge IIJ and the cap Ila in the threading of the cap in place, so that the cartridge is placed under a yielding pressureinsur'- ing good sealing engagement of the conical projection I1 in the neck end |51 oi the cartridge. With this construction there is also assurance of reasonably good sealing of the cartridge even when the user fails to tighten the cap Ha as tightly as possible, because the spring I8 comes into contact with the end of the cartridge Ill as soon as the cap Ila is started in the outer end of the' handle and the spring compresses more and more the farther the cap is tightened.

If desired, I may also provide, as shown in Fig, 3, still another coiled compression spring 20, lighter than the coiled compression spring I8' in the inner end of the handle 9a surrounding the conical projection I 'la and arranged to have abutment with the inner end of the cartridge Hl and be compressed between the handle and the cartridge when the cap I la is inserted and tightened. In that way, when the cap Ila is removed there is a suicient pressure exerted on the inner end of the cartridge I0 to eject it, or at least help in its removalfrom the handle, Of course, it should also be evident that I may provide the spring 20 alone `in combination with a plain closure cap like that shown at II in Fig. 1, so that the cartridge I0 is more or less positively seated by the cap against the projection I'I or I'Iabut is spring pressed in the outward direction for easier removal.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims have been drawn to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim:

l. A toothbrush comprising a body providing a head portion having bristles projecting therefrom, and an elongated tubular handle portion extending from and rigid with the head portion, said handle portion being open at its outer end andclosed at its linner end and having a substantially conical projection in that end, -an elongated cartridge adapted to contain a dentifrice and havingI a/dispensing opening in 4one end, the cartridge being slidabl'e endwise .in and removable endwise from the handle and disposed in said handle portion with vthe projection entered in and closing the dispensing opening, and means threaded -on the openend'of the "handle against the "end of the cartridge to retain said cartridge in said 4handle and cause the projection tobe entered tightly inthe dispensing opening.

2. A toothbrush comprising 'a body'providing a. head portion having bristles projecting therefrom, and lan elongated'tubular handle portion extending from and' rigid with the head portion, said handle portion being open/atv its outer-end and'closed atits'in'ner end andhaving la substantially conical projection in that'=end,'a coiled compressions'pring seated inthe'closed inner end surroundingl the conical' projection, anlelon'gated cartridge v"adapted'to contain Aa dentifrice and having la dispensing opening in one'end. theo-artridge being disposed removably in said handle portion engaging said spring and with the projection entered in and closing the dispensing opening, the outer end portion of said handle being threaded, and a cap threaded on said handle so as to force the cartridge into the handle against the resistance of said spring in closer sealingV engagement with: said projection and retain the cartridge in the handle, said spring serving to assist removal of the cartridge when the cap is removed.

3. A toothbrush comprising a body providing a head portion having bristles projecting therefrom, and an elongated tubular handle portion extending fromy and rigid with the head portion, said handle portion being open at its outer end and closed at its inner end and having a substantally conical projection in that end, an elongated cartridge adapted to contain a dentifrice and having a dispensing opening in one end, the cartridge being disposed removably in said handle portion with the projection entered in and closing the `dispensing opening, a coiled compression spring surrounding said conical projection and seated in the inner end of said handle and arranged to be compressed when the cartridge is moved inwardly to sealing engagement with said projection, whereby to urge the cartridge outwardly when it is desired to remove it, the outer end portion of said handle being threaded, a cap threaded on said handle so as to force the cartridge into the handle in closer sealing engagement with said projection and retain the cartridge in the handle, and a resilient member in the cap compressed between the cap and the outer end of the cartridge to press the open end of the cartridge resilently into wedging sealing contact with said conical projection,

4. A toothbrush comprising a body providing a head portion having bristles projecting therefrom, and an elongated tubular handle 'portion extending from and rigid with the head portion, said handle portion being open at its outer end and closed at its inner end and having a substantially conical projection in that endfan elongated cartridge adapted to contain a dentifrice and having a dispensing opening in one en d, the cartridge being disposed removably in said handle portion with the projection entered in and closing the dispensing opening, `a relatively light spring means in said handle which is compressed when the cartridge is moved inwardly to sealing engagement with said projection, whereby to urge the cartridge outwardly when it is desired to remove it, the outer end portion `of said `handle being threaded, a cap threadedon said lhandle so as -to -force the cartridge into the handle in closer sealing engagement with said projection and 'retain the cartridge in the handle, and Va second and relatively heavy spring means on said cap which in the application of ,the cap on vthe handle' engages the outer end of the cartridge, and is-compressed when the cap is tightened ,whereby to urge the cartridge yieldingly inwardly against the action of the first; spring means. t

'5. A toothbrush comprising a body providing a headportion'having bristles projecting therefrom, and'an elongated tubular-handle portion extending from and -rigid with the headportion, said handle portion being Vopenat its outer end andr closed "atits inner end and having ausubstantially conical projection in that Yend,an elongated cartridge adapted vto containradentiirice and having a; dspensingopening inV one vrend,y the artridge'being slidable endwise in and removable endwise from the handle and disposed in said handle portion so that the dispensing opening is closed by the conical projection in the closed said handle portion being open at its', louter end e and closed at its inner end, an elongated cartridge adapted to contain a dentifrice and having a dispensing opening in oner end, the cartridge being slidable endwise in and removable endwise from the handle and disposed in sai-d handle portion so that the dispensing opening is closed by the closed inner end of the handle, the outer end portion of said handle being threaded, and a cap threaded on said handle so as to force the cartridge into the handle in closer sealing engagement with the closed inner end of said handle and retain the cartridge in the handle.

7. A toothbrush comprising a body providing a head portion having bristles projecting therefrom, and an elongated tubular handle portion extending from and rigid with the head portion, said handle portion being open at its outer end and closed at its inner end, an elongated cartridge adapted to contain a dentifrice and having a dispensing opening in one end, the cartridge being disposed removably in said handle portion so that the dispensing opening is closed by the closed inner end of the handle, spring' means in said handle which is compressed when the cartridge in the handle is moved toward the closed end of the handle whereby to urge the cartridge outwardly when it is desired to remove it, the outer end portion of said handle being threaded, and a cap threaded on said handle so as to force the cartridge into the handle in closer sealand closed at its inner end, an elongated cartridge adapted to contain a dentifrice and having a dispensing opening in one end, the cartridge being disposed removably in said handle portion so that the dispensing opening is closed by the closed inner end of the handle, spring means in said handle which is compressed when the car- 5 tridge in the handle is moved toward the closed endof the handle whereby to urge the cartridge outwardly when it is desired to remove it, the outer end portion of said handle being threaded, a cap threaded on said handle so as to force the cartridge into the handle in closer sealing engagement with said projection and retain the cartridge 4in the handle, and a second spring means on ASl'tic 1cap which in the application of the cap on thehandle engages the outer end of the cartridge e compressed when the cap is tightened,

,tthe action of the rst spring means, Y toothbrush comprising a body providing a headeportion having bristles projecting there fromgfand an elongated tubular handle portion extending from and rigid with the head portion, said handle portion being open at its outer end and Vcl''ised at its inner end, an elongated cartridge adapted to contain a dentifrice and having a dispensing opening in one end, the cartridge being disposed removably in said handle portion so'that the dispensing opening is closed by the closed inner end of the handle, the outer end portion'o'i said handle being threaded, a cap threaded said handle so as to force the cartridge into the' Vhandle in closer sealing engagement with saidfprojection and retain the cartridge in the handle, and spring means on said cap which in K application of the cap on the handle engages 351;', outer end of the cartridge and is compressed whenfthe cap is tightened, whereby to urge the 'cartrV nge yieldingly inwardly.

:"' THEODORE F. JACKSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the die oi Vthis patent: "E UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Stein Nov. 10, 1903 Pederson Oct. 22, 1912 Townsend June 15, 1920 Lieberthal June 15, 1920 Campfens et al. July 3, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS l Country Date K 6,291 Great Britain Mar. 13,- 1911 y 417,439 Great Britain May 22, 1934 

